Method for repairing well tools



Oct. 19, 1937. A. c. CATLAND METHOD FOR REPAIRING WELL TOOLS Filed July 22, 1935 ALFRED Ci Cdr/.AND

/NvENTOE PE2 Ab MM A free/usr Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED :STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE Application July 22, 1935, 'Serial No. 32,577

2 Claims.

'This invention relates to a'rnethod fo-r repairing tools and relates more particularly to a method for repairing well rea-mers of the 'type employed in the rotary method of well drilling.

Well' rearners usually embody cutters rotatable on pins `whose end portions arecarried in Aopenings in the reamer body. During 'the operation of such a reamer thecutter carrying pins are subjected Ato heavy thrusts 'and severe hammering. The material of which thereamer bodyjis formed is'not hard enough to `withstand this action and the openings receiving rthe end portions of the cutter carrying pins soon become worn out of round and oversized. This necessitates the building 'up' ofthe bodyv by welding or the rlike and the reboring of the openings to receive the pins. Reamers have been `introduced having hard bushings in the openings of thebody to receive the end portionsoffthe cutterfcarrying pins. The

' use of such bushings is not altogether satisfactory, especially in small size reamers .where there l is insufiicient space for bushings having `proper wall vthickness to be practical. 'I

Ageneral ,object of this invention is to provide a simple, practical method for repairing a Well Y reamer whose openings for receiving the cutter carrying pins have become-oversized or out of round. p

Another `object of this invention is to provide a rapid inexpensive method for repairing the shank or body of a lWell reamer whose pin receiving openings have become-worn, which method may "be `read-ily carried out bythe simple tools kfound in small fieldmachine shops, etc.

Another object of thisinvention is'to provide a method for repairing a well reamer y'body w-ho-se pin receiving Aopenings have become worn that insures the proper dependable mounting of the 'cuttersvonthe repaired tools. f

Another objectoffthis invention Yis toprovide a method -ior repairing a worn well reamer that makes the repairedbody or shank very long wearingso that it is adapted for extensive Vuse before requiring afseco-n'd repair or reconditioning.

Another object of this invention is to provide amethod of the character ymentioned for repairy Y ing a worn well reamer that provides the reamer and quickly reconditioned or repaired from time to ytime as may become necessary.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical manner of carrying out the method of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a well reamer that has been repaired by the method provided by this invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom View of the reamer shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. l and Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the worn parts before the reamer has been repaired.

While the method provided by this invention is adapted to 'be employed for repairing well tools of various characters it is particularly adapted for usein repairing well reamers having cutters rotatable on removable or replaceable pins. Accordingly, I will confine the present disclosure to a description of a typical manner of carrying out the method in repairing a reamer of this class, it being understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited or restricted to the specific use or application herein described.

The particular well reamer illustrated in the drawing includes a shank or body I0 adapted to be connected in a drilling string and having a longitudinal fluid passage II for conducting the rotary mud usually employed in the rotary method of well drilling. A threaded pin I2 is provided at one end of the body I0 for connecting with a part of the drilling string and a threaded socket I3 is provided in the other end of the body to receive a pin on an adjacent part of the string. The opposite end portions of the shank I0 may be substantially cylindrical while the intermediate portion I4 of the shank is substantially triangular in transverse cross section. The apices of the triangular portion I4 are flattened or rounded oft having rounded surfaces I5 and sockets or recesses I6 are lprovided in the apex parts to partially carry or receive the reamer cutters I1. The upper and lower walls I8 of the recesses I6 are substantially horizontal and are provided with flat Walled notches or recesses I9.

In accordance with the usual practice the cutters I1 are rotatable about vertical or longitudinally extending pins 20. As shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing openings 2I and 22 are provided in the portion I4 of `the body I0 to communicate with the upper and lower ends respectively, of the recesses l@ to receive the upper and lower portions of the pins 29. The openings 2I and 22 extend to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the triangular portion I4 and continue as grooves in the exterior of the shank or body IIJ to permit the easy insertion and removal of the pins 26. Flat sided washers 9 are arranged in the correspondingly shaped recesses I9 at the upper and lower ends of the cutters I1 to receive the end thrusts from the cutters. As the parts of the reamer are originally assembled as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing lock screws or pins 23 are arranged in transverse openings in the body portion it to cooperate with notches 24 in the pins 26 to lock the pins against rotation. Retaining pins or stop pins 25 are arranged in openings in the shank portion It to project through the openings 22 at the lower ends of the pins 2li to prevent downward movement or displacement of the pins. It is to be understood that insofar as the present invention is concerned the removable cutter carrying pins 26 may be held or locked in place in any manner in the reamer as originally assembled or manufactured.

The operation of the reamer in the Well subjects the cutters I1, the pins 26 and the portions of the body I6 carrying the pins 29 to excessive strains and wear. In practice after a short period of use the openings 2| and 22 carrying the opposite end portions of the pins 29 become enlarged and out of round as illustrated in Fig. 5. rIhe pins 2i! may also become worn. When the openings 2i and 22 become worn in this manner it is necessary to discard the body I6 or repair the body so that it may again properly receive and carry the pins 26 or the replacement pins for rotatably supporting the cutters. Heretofore it has been the usual practice to repair reamer bodies worn as described above by building up the parts adjacent the openings by welding and then reboring the openings to receive the cutter carrying pins. This manner of repairing the reamer bodies is very expensive and requires tools and equipment not usually available in small eld machine shops, etc.

The method of the present invention as employed to repair the worn reamer shown in the drawing comprises, generally, the removal of the pins 2G from the openings 2I and 22, the drilling or providing of sockets 26 in the body I0 to intersect the openings 2l and 22, securing blocks or inserts 21 in the sockets 26 having openings 32 for receiving the opposite end portions of the cutter carrying pins 26 and then inserting and locking the pins 26 in the openings 32.

rIhe removal of the pins 26 from the openings ZI and 22 may be readily accomplished by first removing the screws or pins 23 and 25 and then driving or moving the pins 26 longitudinally from the openings 2| and 22. The outer ends of the openings 2i and 22 are open and accessible Vfor the easy removal of the pins 20. If the pins 2D are worn to an appreciable extent they may be discarded while the cutters I1 may be resharpened or if they are excessively worn they may be discarded also.

Following the removal of the pins 20 the invention contemplates the providing of the openings or sockets 26 in the body I0 to intersect the openings 26 and 2 I. It is a feature of the invention that the sockets 26 may be easily and quickly drilled in the body I9 from the surfaces I 5 to intersect the openings 2l and 22. The Sockets 26 are preferably, though not necessarily, drilled,

- in diameter.

radial relative to the central longitudinal axis of the body I0. Further, it is preferred that the sockets 26 be drilled so that their longitudinal axes are in planes normal to the longitudinal axis of the body. The sockets 26 are drilled sufficiently deep to fully or completely intersect the openings 2I and 22. In carrying out the method the sockets 26 may be formed by common or typical drills to be in the nature of cylindrical bores as shown throughout the drawing. In 'practice it is preferred to form the sockets 26 comparatively large sockets 26 ofcourse depends upon the size of the inserts 21 `which are preferably preformed, as will`be' hereinafter described. The several sockets 26 drilled in the body I0 are preferably of the same diameter and the same depth. In the particular case illustrated in the drawing the sockets 26 are positioned and proportioned so that they join or communicate with the recesses I9 for carrying the thrust washers 9. It is believed that it will be apparent how the sockets 26 may be quickly and easily drilled in the body Ill by common drilling tools.

After the providing or drilling of the sockets 26 the blocks or inserts 21 are inserted in the sockets and secured to the body Ii). 'I'he inserts 21 are preferably preformed or previously manufactured for the repair of the tools and the sockets 26 are preferably drilled to accuratelyA receive them. The inserts 21 are cylindrical parts which accurately t the sockets and which have their inner ends bearing on the inner or bottom walls 30 of the sockets. The inserts 21 are preferably proportioned so that their outer ends are ush with the faces I5 and where the faces I5 are rounded the outer ends of the inserts are correspondingly shaped. Where the sockets 26 join the recesses 9, as shown in the drawing, the inserts 21 may have flat faces 3I to formthe bottom or inner walls ofthe recesses I9. In accordance with the invention the inserts 21 have openings 32 extending transversely or diametrically through them. The openings 32 may be of the same diameter as the openings 2| and 22 initially provided in the reamer body I0. When the inserts 21 are inserted in the sockets 26 they are positioned so that their openings 32 are axially aligned with and form continuations of the openings 2| and 22.

Following the inserting and locating of the inserts 21 in the sockets 26y the inserts 21 are secured to the body. It has been found desirable The diameter anddepth of the to weld the outer ends'of the inserts 21 to the A reamer body as at 33. The welds at 33 may be comparatively light as there are practically no forces tending to move the inserts 21 outwardly from the sockets 26. As the inserts 21 are cylindrical and iit the sockets 26 as described above they cannot move inwardly or vertically in either direction in the sockets. It is preferred to form the inserts 21 of hard material to be wear resistant.

When the reamer body I0 has been provided with the blocks or inserts 21 as just described the pins 20 or replacement pins 20 may be arranged in place to rotatably carry the cutters I1. The pins 2U may be easily inserted through the openings 2I or 22 to have their opposite end portions received in the openings 32 of the inserts 21. When the pins 20 are inserted as just described the washers 9 are arranged in the recesses I9 and the cutters I1 are arranged in the recesses I6 so that the pins are passed through their openings to hold them in the assembled relation.

When a pin has been arranged in place where its opposite end portions are received in the openings 32 the pin is secured or locked against rotation and longitudinal movment. Each insert 21 has a relatively small transverse opening 36 which yintersects or partially intersects its opening 32.

The openings 36 of the several inserts 21 are in the same relative positions and, therefore, the openings V36 are equal distances from the end walls I8 of the recesses I6. Lock pins 31 are arranged in the openings 36 of the upper inserts 21 toV cooperate with the notches 24 in the pins 20 to prevent rotation of the pins. Stop pins38 are f arranged in the openings 36 of the lower inserts 21 to enter the openings 32 at the lower ends of the pins 20 to prevent downward movement and y displacement of the pins 20. As the openings 36 of the several inserts 21 are'equally spaced from the end walls I8 of the recesses I6 the relationship between the lock pins 31 and the stop pins 38 may be reversed when the reamer is turned end for rend. That is, when the reamer is to be used with its socket I3 at its upper end and its pin I2 at its lower end the lock pins 31 are arranged in the openings 36 of the inserts 21 kadjacent the openings 22 and the stop pins 38 are arranged in the openings 36 of the inserts 21 adjacent the openings 2|.

In the event that the body IIJ of the reamer does not have openings to permit the insertion of the pins 31 and 38 such openings 40 may be drilled in the triangular portion I4 of the body to permit the easy insertion of the pins. Smaller transverse openings 4I may be provided in the body portion I4 to allow the pins 31Y to be driven from f the openings 36 through the openings 40 by drift `ings have become worn may be easily and quickly repairedrwith simple available tools. The sockets 26 and theopenings 40 and 4I may be easily 'drilled lin they body I0 and the hardened inserts 21 are easily inserted in the sockets and brought to their proper positions. As described above, very little welding 33 is required to hold the inserts 21 in the sockets 26 as there is little or no tendency for the inserts to move outwardly from the sockets. The inserts 21 in being cylindrical and in being held in cylindrical sockets cannot move vertically or longitudinally of the reamer and the inserts are positively held against inward movement by the walls 36 of the sockets. When the body I 0 has been provided with the hardened inserts 21 the pins 26 and cutters I1 may be easily and quickly assembled on the reamer. The hard inserts 21 are long wearing and effectively and dependably support the opposite end portions of the pins 26. In the event that the inserts 21 become worn through use they may be easily removed by cutting out the welding 33 and disengaging them from the sockets 2G. The worn inserts 21 may be replaced by new or replacement inserts to recondition the reamer body II] to again carry the pins 20.

Having described only a typical preferred manner oi carrying out the method of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of repairing a well reamer body having a worn opening for receiving a cutter supporting pin, said method including, drilling a single hole to form a socket in the body at and intersecting the worn opening, providing an insert having an opening, said insert being of substantially the same size and shape in cross section as said drilled socket, positioning the insert in the said socket where its opening is adapted to receive said pin, and then securing the insert to the body.

2. The method of repairing a well reamer body provided with two spaced parts having worn openings for receiving the end portions of a cutter supporting pin, said method comprising, drilling a single hole in each of said parts to form sockets at and intersecting the said worn openings, providing two inserts each having an opening, said inserts being oi substantially the size and cross section as the said drilled sockets, positioning an insert in each of said sockets where their openings are adapted to receive the end portions of the cutter supporting pin, inserting the pin in the openings of the inserts, and then securing the inserts to the said body parts.

ALFRED C. CATLAND. 

